#MSDFNSF WELP. HER LOT IN LIFE. There's something poetic in it- wind can run parallel to water but can't converge with it.

[deiscension]

      ⌜◈⌟    ▌ ── 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢 𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, prompting her to unfurl her fan and shield her lower face from view. Few dare argue with her so forwardly aside from her brother. Even fewer have ever chastened her to such degree. How insulting. How... exhilarating! It's been too long since she engaged in a proper debate.

       𝐅𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, "An easy gesture doesn't negate that the gesture was made at all. The initial outcome isn't where it all has to end. You say the light only goes so far before the darkness swallows it, but that doesn't stop the light from entering the darkness anyway. That is the nature of goodness: it will return again and again even if it seems a futile effort. The world doesn't need to give presents for being good. That's what we should do for each other." She flicks her fan in the other's direction. "Yes, there would be different outcomes in your scenario. But doesn't that make it all the more important that we ought to be kind in spite of what may come of it rather than because of what will come of it?"

" No. " Normally Lamia would play the sweet, helpless role but with her words already heard, there was no point. So she lets the mask half-fall. " Only those who live good lives think such naïve thoughts. " She answers matter of factly, lips twisted into a bitter smile. " Flowers require little effort from either party; it's a poor example. Perhaps one would give you a flower back or an umbrella one day, but that's only because it is a gesture of equal value. " She twirls a strand of her hair between her fingers. " Light only goes so far before darkness swallows it whole. Besides, if an attractive person hands out a hundred flowers versus someone who is considered a freak, the outcome is bound to be different. "